Overview

Hanging wallboard is a project that can be completed quickly and easily with a little preplanning and a helping hand. Planning the layout of panels will help you reduce waste and deal with problem areas. Where possible, install full panels perpendicular to the framing to add strength and rigidity to walls and ceilings. To save yourself time and trouble during the finishing process, avoid joints where two untapered panel ends are butted together. These are difficult to finish because there’s no recess for the compound and tape. In small areas, install long sheets horizontally that run the full length of the walls. Or hang the panels vertically, which produces more seams that need taping but eliminates butted end joints. If butted joints are unavoidable, stagger the seams and locate them away from the center of the wall, or install back blocking to help mask unflattering effects.

Step 1

Preparing for Wallboard Installation-Step 1

Use protector plates where wires or pipes pass through framing members less than 11⁄4" from the face. The plates prevent wallboard screws from puncturing wires or pipes.

Step 2

Preparing for Wallboard Installation-Step 2

Nail furring strips to the framing to extend the wall surface beyond any obstructions such as water pipes or heating ducts

Step 3

Preparing for Wallboard Installation-Step 3

Mark the locations of the studs on the floor with a carpenter’s pencil or masking tape. After wallboard covers the studs, the marks indicate the stud locations

Step 4

How to Cut Wallboard-Step 1

Position the wallboard T-square with the short arm flush against the edge. Use a utility knife to score the wallboard face paper along the arm of the square at the cutting point

Step 5

How to Cut Wallboard-Step 2

Bend the scored section with both hands to break the plaster core of the wallboard. Fold back the unwanted piece and cut through the back paper to separate the pieces

Step 6

Making Straight Cuts-Step 1

Smooth rough edges with a drywall rasp. One or two passes with the rasp should be sufficient. To help fit a piece into a tight space, bevel the edge slightly toward the back of the panel.

Step 7

Making Straight Cuts- Step 2

Where untapered panel ends will be butted together, bevel-cut the outside edges of each panel at 45°, removing about 1⁄8" of material. This helps prevent the paper from creating a ridge along the seam. Peel off any loose paper from the edge.

Step 8

How to Cut an Electrical Box Opening: Coordinate Method-Step 1

Locate the four corners of the box by measuring from the nearest fixed edge—a corner, the ceiling, or the edge of an installed panel—to the outside edges of the box.

Step 9

How to Cut an Electrical Box Opening: Coordinate Method- Step 2

Transfer the coordinates to the panel and connect the points, using a T-square. Measure from the panel edge that will abut the fixed edge you measured from. If the panel has been cut short for a better fit, make sure to account for this in your measurements.

Step 10

How to Cut an Electrical Box Opening: Coordinate Method-Step 3

Drill a pilot hole in one corner of the outline, then make the cutout with a keyhole saw.